House Cafe Inc

AS WE BEGAN WORKING WITH STUDENTS FROM OGDEN, KS IN 2010 WE STARTED TO SEE THAT POVERTY IN OUR COMMUNITY IS LARGELY GENERATIONAL. WE WATCHED STUDENTS WE WORKED WITH, WHO GREW UP IN LOW INCOME HOMES, BECOME ADULTS IN LOW INCOME SITUATIONS, AND EVENTUALLY RAISE THEIR OWN KIDS IN LOW INCOME HOMES. IN 2017 WE OPENED THE HOUSE CAFE INC. TO TRY AND INTERVENE IN THE GENERATIONAL POVERTY CYCLE. THROUGH THE SELLING OF FOOD AND DRINK ITEMS IN A LOCALLY OPERATED COFFEE SHOP. PROFITS, AS WELL AS GRANTS AND DONATIONS ARE USED TO FUND CHILDREN, YOUTH, AND COMMUNITY FOCUSED ENDEAVORS THAT EQUIP AND EMPOWER OGDEN CHILDREN AND YOUTH WITH RESOURCES, ABILITIES, AND EDUCATION TO ESCAPE A GENERATIONAL CYCLE OF POVERTY. THESE ENDEAVORS CONFRONT, WITHOUT LIMITATIONS, CONTRIBUTING FACTORS TO POVERTY SUCH AS DRUG ABUSE, HIGH CRIME RATES, LACK OF RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES, UNEMPLOYMENT, AND A LACK OF EDUCATION OR EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES, AND OTHER FACTORS WHICH CONTRIBUTE TO THE CONTINUATION OF THE POVERTY CYCLE.

THE GOAL OF THE HOUSE CAFE IS TO PROVIDE AMPLE OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS TO GET OUT OF THE CYCLE OF POVERTY AND SUCCEED THROUGH A VARIETY OF METHODS. ONE WAY THIS GOAL IS COMPLETED IS THROUGH HAVING STUDENTS VOLUNTEER ALONGSIDE OF THE ADULTS AT THE COFFEE SHOP SO THEY CAN LEARN MENTALITIES NEEDED TO REACH THEIR FULLEST POTENTIAL. THE HOUSE CAFE ALSO GENERATES REVENUE TO INVEST BACK IN THE COMMUNITY OF OGDEN FOR THE SAME PURPOSE. IN THE LAST FISCAL YEAR, WE HAVE FUNDED AND HOSTED TEEN CENTER EVENTS EVERY OTHER WEEK AS WELL AS A CERAMICS CLUB AND A WORKSHOP CLUB. EVENTS INCLUDE THEMED EVENTS AND OPEN GAME NIGHTS. WE ALWAYS PROVIDE SNACKS OR MEALS TO CREATE AN INVITING AND WELCOMING ENVIRONMENT. WE HAVE HAD UP TO 30 STUDENTS SHOW UP ON A GAME NIGHT BUT HAVE REACHED UP TO 60 STUDENTS IN OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH THE VARIOUS EVENTS WE HOST. IT IS OUR AIM TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES TO REACH AND SUPPORT AS MANY STUDENTS IN OUR COMMUNITY AS WE CAN, INCLUDING THOSE OF DIFFERENT AGES, CULTURES, AND BACKGROUNDS. IN THIS EFFORT AND ACCORDING TO OUR MISSION, WE HAVE EXPANDED TO REACH CHILDREN AGES 30 MONTHS TO 6 YEARS OLD THROUGH THE BUILDING OF OUR SOON TO BE COMPLETED EARLY LEARNING CENTER. THIS CENTER WILL HELP CATCH KIDS UP TO THE ACADEMIC, EMOTIONAL, AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT OF THEIR PEERS BEFORE STARTING ELEMENTARY SCHOOL SO THEY DON'T START BEHIND AND STAY BEHIND. WITH OUR PROFITS, DONATIONS, AND GRANTS, WE HAVE REMODELED THE BUILDING WE PURCHASED IN 2020 INTO AN EARLY LEARNING CENTER THAT MEETS STATE LICENSING REQUIREMENTS AND PURCHASED NECESSARY SUPPLIES. THE WAY EARLY LEARNING CENTER OPENED IN 2022. LASTLY, COFFEE SHOP FUNDS HAVE BEEN USED TO PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS TO STUDENTS FOR ANY TYPE OF SECONDARY EDUCATION TO HELP THEM OVERCOME THE OBSTACLES AND REACH THEIR DREAMS AND POTENTIAL.

WE HAVE PROVIDED MULTIPLE STUDENTS WITH COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS AND HAVE ASSISTED IN THE COLLEGE APPLICATION PROCESS. MANY OF OUR STUDENTS DO NOT HAVE THE SUPPORT STRUCTURE AT HOME, AND LACK THE CONFIDENCE TO FILL OUT THESE FORMS OR APPLICATIONS ON THEIR OWN. OUR ORGANIZATION HAS ASSISTED STUDENTS IN PLANNING FUTURE EDUCATION GOALS AND IMPLEMENTING THOSE GOALS INTO ACTION STEPS. WE ALSO FUND STUDENT INTERSHIPS, AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITIES, AND WE HAVE, AND CONTINUE TO, FUND RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES ON THE WEEKENDS. THESE EVENTS TAKE THE TEENS OFF THE STREETS ON THE WEEKEND AND GIVE THEM A HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT WITH VIDEO GAMES, BOARD GAMES, BILLIARDS AND MORE. DINNER, SNACKS, AND EVENTS ARE PROVIDED FREE OF CHARGE TO ALL STUDENTS IN OUR COMMUNITY. IT IS OUR AIM TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES TO REACH AND SUPPORT AS MANY STUDENTS IN OUR COMMUNITY AS WE CAN, INCLUDING THOSE OF DIFFERENT AGES, CULTURES, AND BACKGROUNDS. IN THIS EFFORT AND ACCORDING TO OUR MISSION, WE HAVE EXPANDED TO REACH CHILDREN AGES 30 MONTHS TO 6 YEARS OLD THROUGH THE BUILDING OF THE EARLY LEARNING CENTER. CHILDREN WHO GROW UP IN HOMES OF POVERTY HEAR ROUGHLY 30 MILLION LESS WORDS THAN CHILDREN GROWING UP IN COLLEGE EDUCATED HOMES. WE HAVE SEEN THAT THE GENERATIONAL CYCLE OF POVERTY BEGINS IN THE EARLY DEVELOPMENT YEARS. THIS YEAR WE OPENED AN INCOME BASED CHILDCARE CENTER, EMPHASIZING LOW INCOME FAMILIES FROM OGDEN, KS. WE OFFER AFFORDABLE CHILDCARE (ROUGHLY 10% OF MONTHLY INCOME) AND FOCUS ON SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL, AND ACADEMIC DEVELOPMENT, IN ORDER TO EQUIP LOW INCOME STUDENTS TO BEGIN PRE-K AT THE SAME STARTING POSITION AS THEIR PEERS. OFTEN TIMES LOW INCOME STUDENTS ARE BEGINNING KINDERGARTEN BEHIND THEIR PEERS IN THESE AREAS, AND OUR CHILDCARE CENTER HAS BUILT A CURRICULUM SPECIFIC TO THE BEHAVIORS AND DEVELOPMENTAL CHALLENGES WE HAVE SEEN IN LOW INCOME STUDENTS FROM OGDEN, KS. WE OFFER PARENTING CLASSES AND VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES FOR ADDITIONAL DISCOUNTED CHILDCARE RATES, SO THAT WE CAN HELP PARENTS CONSIDER ALTERNATIVE PERSPECTIVES TO PARENTING, DISCIPLINE, AND FINANCES.